Counting God's Gifts

Thanksgiving Day is behind us and a new year is fast approaching. As I have been reading “One Thousand Gifts - A Dare To Live Fully Where You Are” by Ann Voskamp, I have been challenged to live out the Scriptures listed at the bottom of this article in new and transformational ways.

I have found that it takes continual practice to develop a habit of thanksgiving as our world pushes us in exactly the opposite direction. Often times it is hard for me to keep engaged in this practice long enough to allow it to develop into a habit. Yet, as I keep practicing, I find my heart transformed, my life transformed by recognizing and celebrating God’s grace in each moment.

The practice that Ann invites us into is literally counting the everyday gifts we have received - all the way up to 1,000 and beyond - counting all that God gives us. I am experiencing this practice transforming my focus beyond the burdens and struggles of my life to God’s blessings in the now!

As you turn over your calendar to a new year, I invite you to begin a new practice. Each day write down all the things that you are thankful for. What gifts has God given you today, this moment - big and small? Can you get to 1,000? Write them down, read them over, share them with a friend and in so doing discover that you are truly loved by God.

May this new practice of counting the gifts God is blessing you with begin waking you to find yourself loved, treasured, and showered with gifts by God.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5v18

“Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things.” Philippians 4v8

For more information visit - www.onethousandgifts.com and www.aholyexperience.com

Stumbling Along

Lately I have “stumbled upon” people who are in the midst of a life journey that has become a complicated stew of pain, suffering, and loss. This “stumbling” has NOT been in the course of my vocation as pastor, but in the everyday journey through grocery store lines, book stores, and coffee shops with people who either know me outside of being a pastor or are strangers. Truthfully, I do not believe I actually “stumbled upon” these people, but that God placed me in their path (and/or them in my path). Sometimes I have found myself wondering silently to God if I am prepared to be His presence for this person in their crisis.

I believe all of us have a calling from God to be God’s presence, fully available to God, for others in the midst of their life situations. This is how we are the church. Yet, when we “stumble upon” a person in crisis, how can we be prepared when being prepared is not something we can put on like a uniform.

Henry Nouwen say, “the question is not to prepare but to live in a state of ongoing preparedness so that when someone who is drowning in the world comes to your world, you are ready ...”1 This kind of preparedness comes from a life lived in deep and honest response to the presence of God in the midst of our own human experience, day in and day out. It comes from strength of soul - from maintaining a solid connection to the One who is our Life and our Wisdom and our Strength.

How do you live in a state of ongoing preparedness? What are the practices and disciplines that keep you solidly connected to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior? Psalm 138v3 says, “On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.”

This is a prayer that we can be confident that God longs to answer. I invite you to pray daily for God to increase the strength of your soul - for God to guide you into new, intentional, and regular practices that solidify your connection to God.

May God increase the strength of your soul for the abundance of your own life in God’s presence and for the sake of those God has called you to serve.

1 - From “Time Enough to Minister” by Henri j.M. Nouwen in Leadership (Spring, 1982)

Grace,

Tim

What's God cooking?

Philippians 2v13 reads, "for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose”. The original language word for will means - to have a desire, purpose, resolve and act means - to put one's gifts and capabilities into operation. My paraphrase for this Scripture is: My desire, purpose and resolve to put my gifts and capabilities into operation in order to fulfill God’s purpose comes from God working in me.

The weather has been very hot recently (I’m trying not to complain). The heat has had me wondering if God working in me is often like God cooking something up in me. Sometimes God works in me like a slow cooker - slowly and patiently simmering in me over an extended period of time. Sometimes, like the heat last week, it feels like God has the heat turned up too high in me - like he’s trying to do too much at once. Yet, there are other times when I wonder if God is cooking anything up in me at all.

What I am learning is that God is always working in me, always cooking something new up in my life. The problem is that much of the time I am not paying attention and miss God’s activity in me.

I invite you to intentionally pay attention to God working within you during the next few months. How is God working (cooking) in you this late summer? How is God stirring up your desire, purpose and resolve to give new energy and new gifts to fulfill God’s purpose for your life in this world?

Temples

I recently read “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” in First Corinthians chapter 3 verse 16. I have been reflecting on how God’s Spirit lives in our bodies and in the summer we spend more time out in God’s creation. For me, being in a boat on a lake fishing, walking a secluded trail through the woods, or simply sitting on our patio enjoying a barbeque meal with Paula help me connect to God. God’s temple that is my body connects with God’s creation that is all around me and I am drawn closer to God. Perhaps God’s Spirit is worshiping within God’s temple, my body, when I am receptive to God’s creation in ways that are unique when I am outside in God’s creation. I’m not sure and that’s fine with me. I do know that my whole being (God’s temple) is drawn closer to the Creator God when I am open to experiencing the glory of God’s creation - I become more of who I was created to be.
I invite you this summer to experiment with ways in which your whole being, your temple of God - the dwelling place of God’s Spirit, can be open to experiencing God in the glory of God’s creation. What activities or lack thereof, open your whole self up to the glory of God that is on display all around you? May you find God in God’s creation and may God find you in the center of your being!

Lent - 2011

Lent 2011: Journey Into New Life

Lament! Simply reading that word can cause one to stop reading. But please keep reading! A definition for lament is to feel, show, or express grief, sorrow, or regret. In the Scriptures we find people like Job, Jeremiah, David, and Jesus giving a voice to their experience of suffering. This is what it means to lament.
During Lent (March 13th thru April 24th-Easter) our worship focus is on Lament. What is lament? What is the relationship between suffering and lament? Where is God when we lament? How do lament, healing, and new life in God fit together. What does it mean to be a friend to someone who is lamenting ?
This may initially sound like a depressing focus, but the very nature of God is love. Lament opens our lives up to God's love. Lament creates spaces where God's healing light and liberation can enter our souls.
We are journeying through the book of Job. It is a long book. For many, trying to read through Job from front to back is too much. Therefore, on our web site and in our bulletin the specific sections of Job for each Sunday of Lent along with daily segments are provided to help you stay connected with the narrative of the story. Follow each reading by engaging in the Daily Reflections on Scripture listed below the reading schedule.
As you Journey Into New Life this Lent, intentionally spend time with this question: What suffering (pain, broken-ness, loss, etc.) in your life needs to be given a voice? The point is to give voice to God of your experience of suffering. Open those dead, dark places within you up to the resurrecting power of the Risen Jesus Christ so that you will experience New Life. As you consider this question, keep three things in mind. First, what does the longing for God's presence feel like in your life. Next, remember God's faithfulness by asking "What has God done in my life that is worth remembering?" Finally, think about what you know to be true of God's character*. (* From A Sacred Sorrow by Michael Card [NavPress, 2005])